MOTOR-CYCLES COLLIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1922, Page 6

MOTOR-CYCLES COLLIDE.

THE INQUEST ON MR. STANTON. HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. NO BLAME ON SECOND CYCLIST. I The adjourned inquest into the circumstances surrounding the motor-cycle accident at Midhirst on the night of Sunday, April 23, which resulted in the death of William L. V. Stanton, was held in the Stratford Courthouse yesterday, before Mr. C. D. Sole, acting coroner, and the following jury: C. Jackson (foreman), C. Rowaon, G. Smith and H. Burmester. Mr. E. H. Young watched the proceedings on behalf of deceased’s parents, and Sergeant Martin conducted the inquiry for the police. Douglas Roland Hall, insurance agent, Ae other party concerned in the collision with deceased, siad he resided with his parents at Midhirst. On the night of the accident he left his home for Stratford, about six o’clock, on his motor-cycle, Donald Meads accompanying him. His light was burning quite well when he left home. He took Meads to his home a mile along the road towards Stratford. Starting the cycle up after putting Meads down, he had only gone about 200 yards when the light went out. He immediately stopped and called out to Meads for a match. Meads replied, and as it was only a short distance back to him witness started the cycle and began to ride back. He heard no sound of any motor-Cycle, and thought the road clear. He did not travel fast, and had gone only a few yards when he saw what afterwards proved to he another motor-cycle. It then appeared like something black, two or three yards distant, and coining towards him. He saw no light. The collision then took place. Witness was, to the best of his knowledge, on his correct side of the road, but towards the centre. He would then be travelling at not more than 15 miles an hour. It was a head-on collision, the impact taking effect on the right-hand aide of witness’ cycle. He was thrown off the cycle on the sand at the side of the road, being slightly stunned by the collision.

In answer to the police, witness said he could ride a cycle all right. The lamp he used was in good order. He had had no intoxicating drink that day, and was quite sober.

Mr. Jackson: “Being an experienced rider, did it. not occur to you that you were taking a risk in riding back as you did?”

Witness said he did not think there was any traffic on the road. Most cyclists rode in the middle of the road.

in answer to Mr. Young, Hall said he stopped the cycle immediately the light went out, and then had an opportunity to hear any traffic which might be coming. Donaid Meads, who had been riding with Hall, and was near the scene when the accident happened, gave corroborative evidence. He saw a motor-cycle coming down the road shortly after Hall left him. It had no light, and was travelling at about twenty miles an hour. He then heard the smash.

Dr. D. Steven said that when Hall came to him he was bleeding freely from the nose, and said to witness, “Never mind about me; see to the man on the car.” Witness went out to the car and examined Stanton, and had him taken to the hospital. He was suffering from a big wound over the right eye, a fracture 7 of the base of the skull, and showed signs of injury to the brain. He was then unconscious. He died on the following Thuraday night. Fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain was the cause of death.

The coroner said the circumstances were very unfortunate. Every man who rode a cycle without a light was a potential murderer, as through his neglect a life might be snuffed out. He hoped this case would be a warning to others. These accidents were becoming too frequent. Much sympathy would be felt with the deceased’s relatives in the loss of the young man who was cut off in the prime of life. He was well thought of by his friends and pupils. Hall had done all that was possible after the accident, and the other young man had acted in a prompt and commendable manner. He suggested, and the jury agreed, that the County Council should be asked to instruct the tollgate keepers to take the names of people driving without, lights so that the council might take action. The jury returned a verdict that deceased came to his death through a motor cycle accident, no blame being attachable to Hall. The jury also expressed sympathy with deceased’s relatives.